Madam Vice-President,
FIDH and the Center for Prisoners’ Rights are extremely disappointed by the Japanese government’s latest blanket refusal to accept recommendations related to the death penalty and detention conditions.
During the fourth UPR of Japan on 31 January, 32 UN member states made a total of 18 recommendations with regard to the death penalty.
These included recommendations that called for: the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the establishment of a moratorium on executions; and the outright abolition of capital punishment.
The government refused to accept all of them.
Equally disappointing was the government’s response to international concern over detention conditions in Japan. The government did not accept all six recommendations that called for an improvement of detention conditions, including in immigration facilities.
Japan’s ongoing failure to make progress towards the abolition of capital punishment and to fully respect the rights of detainees has been highlighted by years of reviews by various UN human rights mechanisms.
It is a stain on Japan’s human rights record, which should be immediately removed by beginning the implementation of the recommendations received through the UPR and other UN mechanisms with regard to the death penalty and detention conditions.
Thank you.